DeLorenzo named new Fonda promoter

October 31, 2013

FONDA - Fonda Speedway will be under new promotership at the start of the 2014 racing season.

At Wednesday's meeting of the Montgomery County Fair board, Matt DeLorenzo was awarded the promotership of Fonda Speedway for the upcoming season. DeLorenzo, a long-time racer at the speedway, takes over from Ric Lucia who has promoted the speedway since 1997.

"My heart is saying stay, but in my mind, it's time to go," Lucia said this morning. "We have been working on this for about three years, since the last contract extension. I have worked with them as kind of a steering committee so there is a smooth transition instead of what happened before. I am just as excited for them as I was when I took over."

Article Photos

Matt DeLorenzo celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the Ice Jam event for modifieds at Fonda Speedway on April 6. DeLorenzo was the new Fonda Speedway promoter Wednesday. (The Leader-Herald/James A. Ellis)

Lucia and his wife Laura took over promotership of the speedway in 1997 from Ralph Compani when the fair board opened the contract for bids.

During his tenure the speedway celebrated its 50th and 60th anniversaries and was host to many special guests including Steve Kinser and Danny Lasoski with the National Sprint Tour, Tony Stewart and Dave Blaney with the O'Reilly All-Star sprint series as well as Ken Schrader, Bobby Allison, Ned Jarrett and Shirley Muldowney. The speedway also hosted a monster truck event as well as World of Outlaws and Lucas Oil Late Model touring series races.

DeLorenzo is expected to be formally introduced as the speedway's promoter at the season-ending banquet Sunday.